My daddy was a brakeman on a highball traveling train
Mama, she raised four little children
And her family had a good name
Papa and mama wanted all for us they never had
Big brother, little brother sister too
None of them turned out half bad
Cept me, I'm the black sheep of the family

Big brother went to college and became a doctor man
I guess he makes about a million dollars a year
Off the folks on insurance plans
He's got a big long Mercedes Benz
And a house overlooking the town
He sits in his Jacuzzi and he watches the sun go down
He feels real sorry for me
I'm the black sheep of the family

I drive me a big old semi truck
I'm making payments on a two room shack
My wife she waits on tables
And at night she rubs my back
I tell her what my papa said to my mama
When he got off a highball train
Wake me up early, be good to my dogs
And teach my children to pray

Little sister married a banker
He owns a country clu
He bought her a big old racing horse
And a funny looking little dog
He buys her big rings and diamonds
And a brand new Japanese yacht
Well, they like to get together
And talk about all the things they've got
But they never mention me
I'm the black sheep of the family

I drive me a big old semi truck
I'm making payments on a two room shack
My wife she waits on tables
And at night she rubs my back
I tell her what my papa said to my mama
When he got off a highball train
Wake me up early, be good to my dogs
And teach my children to pray
Tell em what to do, John

John Anderson:
I said, wake me up early, be good to my dogs
And teach my children to pray